Bob Vogler, President of the George Waller Chapter, represented the Virginia Society at the patriot marker dedication ceremony for  Captain Francis Henry (Virginia militia)  at the 238th commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Shallow Fords.   Captain Henry  was buried by his sons  where he fell after the battle on  Oct. 14, 1780.  He was the lone patriot killed during a 45 minute  battle between 350 patriot militia who confronted approximately 500 Loyalist militia at  the Mulberry Fields on the banks of the Yadkin River in North Carolina   The Loyalist were on their way to reinforce Lord Cornwallis when they were defeated and turned back. 

Submitted by Bob Vogler

Photos below:
Photo #1  Bob Vogler at grave site
Photo #2 Grave marker
Photo#3 NC SAR color guard... including L to R 2nd from left-  Dr. Sam Powell (NC SAR state treasurer and SAR Foundation member at large);  3rd from left- NC SAR president George Strunk 

     On October 10, 1774, Virginia Militia under the command of Colonel Andrew Lewis fought a combined force of Shawnee and Mingo Indians at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, present day Point Pleasant.  That event was celebrated this weekend with a series of events culminating in a memorial service with wreath presentations.  The Virginia SAR delegation was led by President Pat Kelly and included past PG Joe Dooley and 2nd VP Bill Schwetke.  Jennifer Kelly and Cat Schwetke accompanied their husbands and also represented their DAR chapters by presenting wreaths.
     On Saturday there was a parade down Main Street in Point Pleasant.  Past PG Joe Dooley led the SAR contingent, carrying the National Colors.

​Four compatriots from the Virginia Society participated in the 238th commemoration of the Battle of Kings Mountain today. 1st Vice President Pete Davenport presented the VASSAR wreath. In the photo (L-R) 3rd Vice President Jeff Thomas of the Fairfax Resolves chapter, President Justin Thomas of the Col. William Grayson CAR Society, 1st Vice President Pete Davenport and Vice President Ken Morris of the George Mason chapter.

The National Society SAR was represented by President General Warren Alter, Secretary General Jack Manning, Chancellor General Davis Wright, Historian General John Thornhill, Librarian General Douglas Collins, Chaplain General John Wakefield and Surgeon General Darryl Addington.

Six state societies and over 25 SAR chapters participated in the event. The combined SAR Color Guard was led by National Color Guard Commander Mark Anthony.
Submitted by Jeff Thomas

The Virginia Society SAR and the Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Virginia conducted a joint dedication of plaques memorializing the veterans of both wars interred at the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia on 6 October. The Old City Cemetery dates back to 1806 and is one of the oldest public cemeteries in continuous use since its founding with nearly 20,000 burials.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places. 
 The event was planned by Compatriot Mark Day of the Thomas Jefferson Chapter.  Chuck Poland, 1st Vice President of the  Fincastle Resolutions VASSAR Chapter and Past President of the Virginia Society of the War of 1812 served as master of ceremonies.  The Revolutionary War plaque, listing 16 veterans, was unveiled by Patrick Kelly, VASSAR President; and the War of 1812 plaque, listing 47 veterans, was unveiled by Past President of the Virginia War of 1812 Dennis Fritts.  The joint color guard of both societies advanced the colors and gave a musket salute and was led by Compatriot Brett Osborn of the Col. James Wood VASSAR Chapter.  Paul Walden, Past President of the George Washington VASSAR Chapter and current Secretary of the Virginia Society of the War of 1812 served as Chaplain.  Greetings were given by Denise McDonald, Executive Director of the Old City Cemetery, VASSAR President Patrick Kelly, and Past President of the Virginia Society of the War of 1812 and VASSAR Compatriot Mike Lyman.  Compatriot Lyman deserves tremendous recognition for identifying many of these graves in his exhaustive research of patriot burials in Virginia. 
 Submitted by Paul Walden

Wreath Presentations (photo by Dick Fickling)

Recently, the Colonel George Waller Chapter's living history group participated at the 38th annual Callands Fall Festival.  Compatriot members and reenactor friends established a living history camp among the 1767 rural complex of historic landmark buildings.  The encampment included several colonial craftsmen.   The Chapter has been participating with an encampment at the festival each year since 2010.  

Article by Bob Vogler, President, CGW Chapter

Chapter Compatriot Jeff  Briggs in middle with musket

     The 2018 Annual Genealogy Workshop, co-hosted by the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter and the Fauquier Court House Chapter, DAR, will be held on Saturday, November 3rd as noted in the flyer above.  RSVP's are not required, but will ensure that you get the handouts, lunch, and are entered for the many valuable door prizes.
     A light breakfast buffet will be available before the formal start of classes at 9:00am.  In both the morning and afternoon there will be four separate lectures offered four times each to small groups, allowing you to build your own schedule.  The keynote will be delivered as all enjoy the provided hot lunch.
     This year's keynote speaker is Shannon Combs-Bennett, a staff genealogist at the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, an expert on DNA for genealogy, and a widely sought genealogy speaker.  She has titled her talk: "What Your Chromosomes Can Tell You".  Checkout her blog at:  http://tntfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/    
   Door prizes are being sought from the same companies that provided them for previous workshops, such as Ancestry, Fold3, Newspapers.com, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage, and 23 & Me, and include subscriptions to online resources, DNA testing, and genealogical supplies.
     Please send your RSVP to alexbev@comcast.net, or call 540-727-9995 by October 31st.  You might even learn how to paint your DNA!

DOOR PRIZES INCLUDE:
6 mos SUBSCRIPTION TO  ANCESTRY WORLD EXPLORER
1 yr SUBSCRIPTION TO FOLD3
1 yr SUBSCRIPTION TO NEWSPAPERS.COM
1 FAMILY FINDER TEST KIT FROM FAMILY TREE DNA
1 DNA TEST KIT FROM MY HERITAGE
1 yr SUBSCRIPTION TO MY HERITAGE
FAMILY TREE MAKER SOFTWARE
Family Tree DNA  and Living DNA are also providing all attendees with a discount code for all of their products
more door prizes will be announced as they are confirmed

To commemorate the 231st Anniversary of the Signing of the Constitution, the George Washington Chapter led a service at Historic Pohick Episcopal Church in Lorton, VA.  Pohick Church was the parish church of General George Washington and George Mason.  The Master of Ceremonies was Paul Walden.  The Reverend Thomas Costa, portraying Parson Massey, Rector of Pohick Church during the Revolutionary War period, read the preamble to the Constitution and led us in prayer, following a solemn tolling of the church bell 13 times.
Below:  The Rev. Tom Costa reads the preamble from the pulpit (photo by Tom Roth)